Boat steering mechanism



May 8, 1934. A HORAK BOAT STEERING MECHANISM Filed March 3l. 1933 l i AI N I'J EN TOR.

K A Dn o H 0 N n O T. Ng A77 W toaportable row boat motor ofconventional type, and the stern of the boat. indicates a 70 r rotatablymounted. shaft, and gear means manu- The rearwardly extending and freeend of the 80 CAQ Cilv

after more fully described. of a sector gear wheel, has formed integralthere- On the drawing: with a plurality of hinge straps which in- Fig. lis a top plan view of my boat steering terfit with similar hinge strapsof the butt plate mechanism and motor control. a 13 and are held inhinged engagement by a re- 100 Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof andiliustratmovable pintle 25. A bushing 27 is rotatably ing in dottedlines one of the upwardly inclined mounted in the hub aperture of saidannular rack positions to which the pivoted portion of my 24 and in aposition so that said annular rack mechanism may be tilted. and bushingmay be free to turn with respect Patented May 8, 1934i Boar STEERINGtiacaauisiu' Anton Horak, Chicago, Ill.

application March 3l, 1933, Serial No. 663,69@`

10 Claims. (Cl. 114-144) This invention relates' to a mechanism adaptedand speed of the motor may be selectively conto be releasably connectedto any conventional trolled by the operator from a remote point, rowboat gasoline motor of the portable and de- As shown on the drawing:tachable type used for power propulsion of row The reference numeral l0indicates an arcuate boats and the like. My invention particularlyShaped clamp which has an opposed releasable comprises a remote controlboat steering mechaportieri ll releasably connected with respect to nismadapted to also provide control for the fuel the clamp 1G by means ofthumb screw 12. 13 carburetor or the motor whereby both steeringindicates a mounting and butt plate which is and speed may beconveniently operated from secured by suitable screws 14 to clamp 10.The the center of the boat or seats in the boat located clamp lo isadapted to be tightened about the elsewhere than adjacent the stern.conventional handle (not shown) or other suit- An important object of myinvention is the proable portion of a row boat motor of the type visionof a light, inexpensive and detachable or wherein the same is pivotedfor swinging moveattachable mechanism adapted to be connected ment withrespect to the mounting means therewhich said mechanism provides highlypractical relatively short lever which is pivoted for suband efficientmeans for controhing the motor, stantially horizontal movement to theupper surboth in turning the motor to guide the boat as face oi the buttplate 13 by means of a pivot 15, well as to regulate the fuel consumedand consethe end of said lever adjacent said pivot formquently attainingany speed desired. ing a hinge connection 17 with the end of an 75 Afurther object of my invention the proupwardly curved lever 18 as shownin Figs. 1 vision of a practical and ecient device attacliand 2. Thefree end of the lever 18 is reduced able to the conventional type ofportable boat to form a substantially round slender portion motor, whichdevice comprises a gear member for a purpose which will hereinafterappear.

ally operable from points in the boat remote from lever 15 carries anaperture in which is loosely the motor. connectedone end of a metalconnecting link A further object of my invention is the pro- 19, theother end of said link pivotally engaging vision of manually operableand manually cona projecting stud 20 of collar 21 which is adaptedtrolled device attachable to the portable row boat to fit snugly uponthe conventional valve lever motor which combines means for swinging the(not shown) of the fuel carburetor 22. It will motor on its pivotalconnection from the center be apparent that selective pivotal movementof of the boat or points therein distant from the the levers 15 and 18will transmit movement to motor, and at the same time embodyingselective the carburetor 22 to regulate the fuel and conand manuallyoperable means for controlling the sequently the speed of the motor 23.fuel supply and speed of the motor. An annular rack 24, which in thepreferred Other and further objects of this invention will form shown inthe drawing, is of a type having be apparent from the disclosures in thespeciiispokes, a hub and a plurality of spaced apart cation and theaccompanying drawing. apertures punched thru its periphery, and havingThis invention (in a preferred form) is illusa peripheral portionthereof out away in a trated in the accompanying drawing andhereinstraight line and which may also be in the form Fig. 3 is a crosssectional View of that portion to each other. Said bushing has aplurality of 105 of my mechanism which embodies the means transverseapertures therethrough as clearly infor manually turning a pivot typeboat motor. dicated in Fig. 3 and as will be more specifically Fig. 4 isa reduced schematic View illustrating hereinafter described. Rotatablymounted upon a boat motor with my device attached thereto the uppersurface of said bushing 27 is a reland illustrating the manner in whichthe position atively small gear wheel 28 of the type having 110 Spacedapart peripheral apertures and having an integral projecting tongue 29,in the end of which tongue is mounted a relatively short upwardlyextending pivot 30 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Said pivot 30 has atransverse aperture therethrough and the reduced portion of the lever 18slides in the aperture of said pivot 30 when the gear wheel 28 isrotated. It will be apparent that rotation of gear wheel 28 will causepivotal movement of lever l5 and consequent movement of the fuel controlvalve of the carburetor 22 of the motor. A cap 31 is secured upon theend of the bushing 27 by means of suitable screws, as clearly indicatedin Figs. 1 and 3, this cap holding said gear wheel 28 in proper rotativeposition.

A right angled lever 32 has one apertured end thereof pivoted coaxialwith and beneath the center of the annular rack 24, a lock nut 33 beingadapted to retain the same in proper position with respect to thebushing 27, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of said lever,which is bent perpendicularly and upwardly with respect to the longerportion thereof, is also apertured and provides journalling means for ashaft as hereinafter described.

A hollow axle shaft 34, which may be of any length desired according tothe size or length of the boat in connection with which my device is tobe used, extends through the aperture in the upwardly extending portionof lever 32 and through the central transverse aperture in the bushing27, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. One end of said axle 34projects a short distance from the bushing 27 toward the aforesaid motorconnections, as indicated in Figs. l and 2. A pipe 34 of the lengthdesired according to the distance from which control is desired issnugly secured by means of suitable screws about the end of shaft 34, asshown in Fig. 3. A relatively long sleeve 35 is snugly secured by meansof the aforesaid screws, about said pipe 34', as indicated in Fig. 3,said sleeve being positioned so that one end thereof lies adjacent theupwardly extending portion of the lever 32 and is adapted to preventlongitudinal movement of said axle shaft 34 in one direction. A pinion36 having an enlarged annular shank is secured on said shaft 34 at apoint immediately adjacent the upwardly extending portion of the lever32 and so that the teeth of said pinion will engage the apertures ofgear wheel 24. A suitable set screw 37 threadingly engages the shank ofsaid pinion 36 and secures the same on said shaft. A hand wheel 41, asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is securely mounted about the end ofpipe 34 by means of a suitable set screw 42 threadingly engaging anintegral shank there- 0f and adapted to engage the surface of said pipe34.

The shaft 34 has a central and longitudinal aperture 38 extendingtherethrough, in which aperture as well as in the central pipepassageway, is rotatably mounted a relatively small axle shaft 39 whichis of a length greater than both the shaft 34 and pipe 34', and one endthereof projects beyond the end of said shaft 34 and its other endprojects beyond the end of said pipe 34. The end of said shaft 39 whichprojects beyond the end of shaft 34 nearest to the motor connections asaforesaid has securely mounted thereon a relatively small pinion 40, theteeth of which engage the apertures of the gear wheel 28. The oppositeend of the said small shaft 39 projects a short distance beyond theouter surface of the hand Whee1'4'l and has mounted thereon a smallerhand wheel 42 which is preferably narrov.r as indicated in Fig. l, andhas a reduced annular shank portion which rotatably engages a centralaperture formed in the shank of the hand wheel 4l, as indicated in crosssection in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that due to the construction hereinbefore describedand particularly to the hinge constructions, both of the annular rackand the upwardly curved lever, the entire device may be operated fromany desired angle of inclination within the boat; and even moreimportant is the advantage of being able to swing the complete steeringmechanism into an upwardly pointing direction above the motor itselfwhere said mechanism is completely out of the way when ingress andegress from the boat is desired. It will be further apparent that due tothe length of the rotatable shafts a person may not only control theangular position of the swingably mounted boat motor which in turncontrols the direction of the boat, but may also, from the center seatof the boat where riding is far more comfortable, and from either aforward or rearward facing position, guide the boat and regulate itsspeed efficiently, satisfactorily and with far greater comfort than ispossible in riding next to the boat stern and motor.

I desire that it be understood that the use of my aforesaid mechanism isnot to be understood as limited to use in connection with the regulationof fuel or speed of a boat engine, but it may be applied to various useswherever the objects accomplished by my invention and remote control isdesirable.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of theinvention and construction thereof may be varied through a wide rangewithout departing from the principles of this invention, and I thereforedo not desire to limit the patent granted thereon.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination with means for guiding a boat and pivotally mounted atthe stern thereof, a sector annular rack hingedly secured with respectto said means for free movement; a journalling member coaxially androtatably mounted on said annular rack; a rotatable shaft journalled insaid member; a pinion secured on said shaft and adapted to move saidannular rack when said shaft is turned, and means for connecting saidmember and said shaft and adapted to maintain said shaft and annularrack in substantially parallel planes.

2. In combination with means for guiding a boat pivotally mounted at thestern thereof, an annular rack hingedly secured with respect to saidmeans; a journalling member coaxially and rotatably mounted on saidannular rack; a rotatable shaft journalled in said member; a pinionsecured on said shaft and adapted to move said annular rack when saidshaft is turned, and means for connecting said member and said shaft andadapted to maintain said shaft and annular rack in substantiallyparallel planes, said annular rack, shaft, member and pinion beingpivotally mounted for vertical pivotal movement with respect to saidboat guiding means.

3. In combination with a portable boat motor having a fuel controlvalve, an annular rack member hingedly mounted with regard to saidguiding means; a gear wheel rotatably mounted in a plane substantiallyparallel to and spaced from said annular rack member; a manuallyrotatable hollow shaft; means wherein said shaft is journalled andadapted to maintain same between said rack member and gear wheel; apinion secured cn said shaft and in mesh with said annular rack member;a shaft rotatably mounted within said first mentioned shaft; a pinion onsaid inner shaft in mesh with said gear wheel, and lever meansconnecting said gear wheel and fuel control valve, the rotation of saidfirst mentioned shaft being adapted to swing said rack and attachedparts and the rotation of said inner shaft being adapted to move saidfuel control lever means to regulate the fuel control valve.

Ll. In a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor, an annular wheellihe rack member having a central hub portion;mounting means hingedly connected to the edge of said raclr memberwhereby the same may be connected to a boat motor; an apertured bushinghaving its lower portion rotatably engaging the hub of said annular rackmember; a gear wheel secured on said bushing and coaxial therewith; ahollow shaft projecting through said bushing member and between saidrack member and said gear wheel and in a plane substantially parallelthereto; a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with said rack member; aninner shaft extending through and rotatable in said first mentionedhollow shaft and projecting from the opposite ends thereof; a pinion onthe end of said inner shaft and in mesh with said gear wheel; and levermeans connecting said gear wheel and fuel control means, the rotation ofsaid inner shaft being adapted to rotate said gear wheel to regulatesaid fuel control means and the rotation of said hollow shaft beingadapted to selectively swing said rack member, motor and attached partsto any desired position.

5. n a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor, an annular wheellilie rack member having a central hub portion;mounting means hingedly connected to the edge of said rack memberwhereby the saine may be attached to a boat motor; an apertured bushinghaving its lower portion rotatably engaging the hub of said annular rackmember; a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in an aperture of said bushingand in a plane substantially parallel to said rack member, and a pinionsecured on said shaft and in mesh with said rack member, the rotation ofsaid shaft and pinion being adapted to rotate said rack member and swingsaid motor to the desired angular position.

6. In a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor, an annular wheel-like rack member having a central hub portion;mounting means hingedly connected to the edge of said rack memberwhereby the same, may be connected to a boat motor; an apertured bushingits lower portion rotatably engaging the hub of said annular' rackmember; a gear wheel secured on said bushing and coaxial therewith; ahollow shaft projecting through said bushing member and between saidrack member and said gear wheel and in a plane substantially parallelthereto; a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with rack member; an innershaft extending through and rotatable in said first mentioned hollowshaft and projecting from the opposite ends thereof; a pinion on the endof said inner shaft and in mesh with said gear wheel; a lever pivoted onsaid first mentioned mounting means; a link connecting one end of saidlever to the fuel control valve, and a lever having one end slidablyconnected on said gear wheel and its other end hingedly connected to oneend of said first mentioned lever, the rotation of said inner shaftbeing adapted to transmit regulative movement to said fuel controlvalve, said rotation of said hollow shaft being adapted to swing saidrack member, shafts, gear wheel and hinged lever angularly.

7. In a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor, an annular wheel-like rack member having a central hub portion; amounting member hingedly connected to the edge of said rack memberwhereby the same may be attached to a boat motor; clamping means on saidmember for releasably attaching the same on a motor; an aperturedbushing having its lower portion rotatably engaging the hub of saidannular rack member; a gear wheel secured on said bushing and coaxialtherewith; a hollow shaft in said bushing member and between said rackmember and between said gear wheel and in a plane substantially parallelthereto; a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with said rack member; ahand wheel on said hollow shaft; an inner shaft extending through androtatable in said rst mentioned hollow shaft and projecting from theopposite ends thereof; a pinion on the projecting end of said innershaft and in mesh with said gear wheel; a bushing on said inner shaftand forming a hand grip; and lever means connecting said gear wheel andfuel control means coinprisjng a lever pivoted on said mounting member,link connections connecting said lever and a fuel control valve; and alever having one end hingedly connected to said first mentioned leverand its other end slidably engaging sad gear wheel, the rotation of saidinner shaft being adapted to rotate said gear wheel to regulate saidfuel control means and the rotation of said hollow shaft being adaptedto selectively swing said rack member', motor and attached parts to anydesired angular position.

8. In a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor having a fuel carburetor and valve, an annular wheel-like rackmember having a central hub portion; mounting means hingedly connectedto the edge of said rack member whereby the same may be attached to aboat motor; an apertured bushing having its lower portion rotatablyengaging the hub of said annular rack member; a hollow shaft rotatablymounted in an aperture of said bushing and in a plane substantiallyparallel to said rack member; a pinion secured on said shaft and in meshwith said rack member, the rotation of said shaft and pinion beingadapted to rotate said rack member and swing said motor to the desiredangular position, and manually operable means for selectively regulatingthe fuel valve of said motor from a remote point.

9. In a device adapted to be attached to a portable and swingable boatmotor, an annular wheel-like rack member having a central hub portion;mounting means hingedly connected to the edge of said rack memberwhereby the same may be connected to a boat motor; an apertured bushinghaving its lower portion rotatably engaging the hub of said annular rackmember; a gear wheel secured on said bushing and coaxial therewith; ahollow shaft projecting through said bushing member and between saidrack member and said gear wheel and in a plane substantially parallelthereto; a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with said rack member; aninner shaft extending through and rotatable in said first mentionedhollow shaft and projecting from the opposite ends thereof; a pinion onthe end of said inner shaft and in mesh with said gear wheel; a leverpivoted on said rst mentioned mounting' means; a linkl connecting oneend of said lever to the fuel control valve; a leverv having one endslidably connected on said gear Wheel and its other end hingedlyconnected to one end of said rst mentioned pivotedl lever, the rotationof said inner shaft and said gear wheel being adapted to transmitregulative movement to said fuel control valve, said rack member,shafts, gear wheel, hinged lever and attached parts being swingablevertically with respect to said mounting means.

10. In a remote control boat steering mechanism adapted to be attachedto a swingably mounted motor, an annular rack hingedly secured withrespect to said motor for vertical movement; a journalling memberrcoaxially and rotatably mounted on said annular rack; al rotat` ableshaft journalledl in said' member; a hand grip on one end of said shaft;a pinion secured on said shaft and adapted to engage said annular rackwhen said shaft is rotated; means for connecting said member and saidsha-t and adapted to maintain said shaft andannular rack insubstantially parallel planes, said annular rack, shaft, member andpinion being pivoted for vertical pvotal movement with respect to saidboat motor; an inner shaft rotatable within said rst mentioned shaft,and means actuable by said inner shaft for selectively regulating thespeed of said motor.

ANTON HORAK.

